Polysulfide Silica Coupling Agents for Tire Tread Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber tire components relying on silica reinforcement face challenges in achieving optimal physical properties without using silane or siloxane-based coupling agents, which limits the effectiveness of silica reinforcement in rubber compositions.
Innovation Solution
A functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agent with a moiety reactive with precipitated silica surfaces and a polysulfide moiety interactive with conjugated diene-based elastomers, excluding specific previously proposed compounds, is used to enhance silica reinforcement in rubber compositions, particularly for tire components, utilizing a structural formula that includes organyl groups, heteroatom moieties, and specific functional groups like epoxy for reactive capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silane or siloxane-based coupling agents are used for silica reinforcement, then bonding effectiveness is improved, but the invention seeks to exclude these conventional agents to provide alternative solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the coupling agent by using polysulfide compounds with specific heteroatom moieties (nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen-containing functional groups) instead of conventional silane or siloxane-based agents. This parameter change maintains bonding effectiveness while providing chemical diversity and alternative pathways for silica-rubber interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite coupling agent system combining polysulfide backbone structure with heteroatom-containing functional groups that can simultaneously interact with both silica surface and rubber matrix, effectively replacing single-function silane agents with a multi-functional composite molecular structure.
2Reliability
If polysulfide coupling agents with heteroatom moieties are used, then silica bonding capability is improved, but compound complexity increases due to multiple functional group requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The polysulfide coupling agent is designed with multiple heteroatom-containing functional groups (amine, imine, amide, imidizole, guanidine, thiol, mercapto, xanthate, ketone, aldehyde, carboxyl, or epoxy groups) that can perform multiple functions: reacting with silica surface hydroxyl groups, interacting with rubber matrix, and providing crosslinking sites, thereby achieving universal compatibility and multi-functionality in a single molecular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by positioning specific heteroatom-containing functional groups at strategic locations within the polysulfide molecule to optimize their interaction with silica surfaces and rubber matrices, ensuring that each functional group performs its specific chemical function at the appropriate interface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agent provides enhanced silica bonding capabilities in rubber compositions, improving the physical properties of tire components by reacting with precipitated silica surfaces and elastomers, offering an alternative to silane and siloxane-based agents, and is specifically effective in tire tread applications.
Implementation Method 1
a functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agent is provided having a moiety reactive with a synthetic amorphous precipitated silica surface (e.g. with hydroxyl groups such as, for example silanol groups or oxygen moieties contained within the precipitated silica structure)
Implementation Method 2
a polysulfide moiety interactive with conjugated diene-based elastomers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agents and silica reinforced rubber compositions. Such rubber composition may be used, for example, for tire components such as, for example, tire treads.